Chinese New Year 2026 marks the Year of the Horse — a symbol of momentum, progress, and bold financial moves. While many Filipinos focus on ang pao, reunion dinners, and welcoming prosperity, the start of the lunar year is also the perfect time to refresh your financial strategy. From groceries and restaurant celebrations to gift shopping, travel bookings, and hosting expenses, CNY spending can quickly add up.

The good news? The right credit card can turn these necessary expenses into cashback, rewards points, or air miles — your own version of a “financial ang pao.” With generous CNY credit card promotions 2026 offering welcome bonuses, cashback multipliers, and dining discounts, January to February is prime time to apply. In this guide, we’ll help you compare credit card rewards in the Philippines and choose the best cashback credit cards for 2026 — without overspending.

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Before choosing a card, you need to understand how rewards truly work.

Cashback Cards

Cashback cards return a percentage of your spending as cash credit.

For example:

• Spend ₱10,000 on groceries
  
  
• Earn 5% cashback
  
  
• Get ₱500 credited back to your account
  
  

Simple. Direct. Practical.

They’re ideal for:

• Grocery-heavy households
  
  
• Families hosting reunion dinners
  
  
• People who prefer guaranteed savings
  
  

When searching for the best credit cards for cashback Philippines, focus on category bonuses — not just the headline rate.

Rewards Points Cards

Points cards earn points per peso spent.

Example:

• ₱30 = 1 point
  
  
• 10,000 points = ₱1,000 shopping voucher
  
  

Points can usually be redeemed for:

• Gift certificates
  
  
• Gadgets
  
  
• Travel bookings
  
  
• Merchandise
  
  

Best for:

• Flexible redeemers
  
  
• Occasional travelers
  
  
• People who like lifestyle perks
  
  

However, point valuation varies. Always check how much a point is worth in pesos.

Air Miles Cards

Miles cards convert spending into airline miles.

Example:

• ₱45 = 1 mile
  
  
• 15,000 miles = roundtrip domestic flight
  
  

Best for:

• Frequent travelers
  
  
• Overseas CNY celebrators
  
  
• Business travelers
  
  

But if you don’t travel often, miles may expire before you use them.

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Here’s the trap: a card advertising “5% cashback” isn’t always giving you 5%.

Why?

• Monthly cashback caps (e.g., ₱1,000 max per month)
  
  
• Category restrictions
  
  
• Minimum spend requirements
  
  

How to Calculate True Value:

1. Multiply your expected monthly spending in the bonus category
   
   
2. Apply cashback rate
   
   
3. Check if you hit the monthly cap
   
   
4. Subtract annual fee
   
   

Example:

If you spend ₱20,000/month on groceries at 6%:

• Potential cashback = ₱1,200
  
  
• But cap = ₱1,000
  
  
• Effective rate = 5%, not 6%
  
  

Understanding this helps you properly compare credit card rewards Philippines instead of relying on marketing numbers.

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Here are strong contenders for the best cashback credit cards Philippines 2026, especially during Chinese New Year season.

UnionBank Cash Back Visa Platinum

Cashback Structure:

• 6% on groceries
  
  
• 2% on Meralco bills
  
  
• 0.2% on other purchases
  
  

Annual Fee: ₱12,000
Minimum Income: ₱30,000/month

Why It’s Great for CNY

Reunion dinner preparations mean large supermarket spending. If you’re spending heavily on ingredients, this card maximizes your grocery cashback.

Hosting guests? The 2% on utilities helps offset higher electricity bills from extended celebrations.

Best for: High-spending households.

BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card

Cashback Structure:

• 4% on dining
  
  
• 1% on supermarkets
  
  
• 0.3% on other purchases
  
  

Annual Fee: ₱5,000
Minimum Income: ₱15,000/month

Why It’s Great for CNY

If your celebration includes restaurant dinners, hotel buffets, or family outings, 4% dining cashback adds up quickly.

It’s one of the more accessible premium cashback cards in terms of income requirement.

Best for: Families celebrating outside the home.

HSBC Live+ Credit Card

Highlights:

• Strong dining cashback
  
  
• Lifestyle and entertainment perks
  
  
• Welcome bonus for new applicants
  
  

HSBC frequently runs limited-time seasonal promos, making it competitive during CNY credit card promotions 2025.

Best for: Urban professionals who mix dining with entertainment spending.

Security Bank Gold Mastercard

Rewards Structure:

• 1% cashback on all purchases
  
  
• Non-expiring points
  
  

Lower income requirement compared to premium cards.

Why it works:

• Simple flat rate
  
  
• No complicated category tracking
  
  

Best for: Beginners who want predictable rewards.

China Bank Credit Cards

China Bank traditionally rolls out special CNY promotions such as:

• Lucky draw entries
  
  
• Digital ang pao credits
  
  
• Dining and mall tie-ups
  
  
• Festival-specific perks
  
  

For members of the Chinese-Filipino community, China Bank often partners with CNY-centric merchants.

Best for: Community-specific promotions and festive perks.

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Promotions updated as of January 2026 — always check bank websites for latest mechanics.

Dining and Reunion Dinner Promos

• 10–20% off partner restaurants
  
  
• Cashback boosts for group dining
  
  
• Installment plans for banquet reservations
  
  

Grocery and CNY Shopping Promos

• Weekend cashback multipliers
  
  
• Bonus points for bulk purchases
  
  
• Supermarket tie-ups
  
  

Plan major grocery trips during promo weekends.

Ang Pao and Red Packet Campaigns

Banks may offer:

• Digital ang pao credits
  
  
• Cashback raffles
  
  
• Lucky draw entries for every ₱5,000–₱10,000 spend
  
  

These effectively multiply reward opportunities.

Welcome Gifts for New Cardholders

January–February 2026 typically includes:

• Annual fee waivers
  
  
• Bonus cashback (₱2,000–₱5,000)
  
  
• Shopping vouchers
  
  
• Gadget giveaways
  
  

Deadlines often end late February 2026.

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When evaluating options, follow this five-step system.

Step 1: Analyze Your Spending Pattern

Review 3 months of expenses.

Identify top categories:

• Groceries
  
  
• Dining
  
  
• Fuel
  
  
• Utilities
  
  
• Shopping
  
  

Your highest category should drive your card choice.

Step 2: Calculate Break-Even Point

Formula:

Expected Annual Cashback – Annual Fee = Net Gain

If cashback doesn’t exceed the fee, reconsider.

Step 3: Check Eligibility Requirements

Typical monthly income requirements:

• Entry-level: ₱15,000
  
  
• Mid-tier: ₱20,000–₱30,000
  
  
• Premium: ₱50,000+
  
  

Also consider:

• Credit history
  
  
• Employment stability (6+ months)
  
  

Step 4: Evaluate Hidden Costs

Check:

• Foreign transaction fees (for overseas CNY trips)
  
  
• Late payment penalties
  
  
• Interest rates
  
  

Rewards lose value if you carry balances.

Step 5: Consider Digital Experience

• Does the mobile app track cashback clearly?
  
  
• Is redemption simple?
  
  
• Is customer service responsive?
  
  

Application Tips for Faster Approval in 2026

Prepare Complete Documents

Employed:

• Valid ID
  
  
• Payslips
  
  
• Certificate of employment
  
  

Self-employed:

• ITR
  
  
• Bank statements
  
  
• Business registration
  
  

Time Your Application Right

January 2026 is ideal — when CNY credit card promotions 2026 are active.

Avoid applying for multiple cards at once.

Boost Approval Odds

• Maintain 30% credit utilization
  
  
• Clear outstanding balances
  
  
• Maintain stable employment history
  
  

If You’re Declined

Options include:

• Secured credit cards
  
  
• Entry-level rewards cards
  
  
• Reapply after 3–6 months
  
  

Responsible Credit Card Use During CNY 2026

Cashback is a bonus — not an excuse to overspend.

• Stick to your CNY budget
  
  
• Pay full balance monthly
  
  
• Set automatic payments
  
  
• Monitor transactions regularly
  
  

The most valuable reward? Zero interest paid.

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The Year of the Horse is about momentum — and smart financial decisions can set the pace for the rest of 2026.

With the right strategy, your Chinese New Year spending can generate meaningful cashback, rewards, and long-term benefits.

Financial wisdom isn’t about spending more — it’s about maximizing what you already plan to spend.

Compare the best cashback credit cards Philippines 2026 on Finmerkado and start the year with financial confidence.

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